regulation of trust or company service providers - cr… · 11 disciplinary sanctions by hkicpa...
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START PRESENTATION
30.4.2018
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The Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”), which is
an inter-governmental body established in 1989, sets
international standards on combating money
laundering and terrorist-financing.
Introduction
The FATF has made 40 Recommendations.
Hong Kong has been a member of the FATF since 1991.
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The FATF Recommendations (1)
Recommendations 22, 28 and 35 are relevant to designated non-financial businesses and professions (“DNFBPs”). DNFBPs includes legal professionals, accounting professionals, estate agents and trust or company service providers (“TCSPs”).
Recommendation 22
DNFBPs should be subject to customer due diligence (“CDD”) and record-keeping requirements when they engage in specified transactions.
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The FATF Recommendations (2)
Recommendation 28
DNFBPs should be subject to effective systems for monitoring and ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements.
Recommendation 35
There should be a range of effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions, whether criminal, civil or administrative, to deal with any non-compliance with AML/CTF requirements by DNFBPs.
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The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist
Financing (Financial Institutions) (Amendment) Bill
2017 ("the AML Bill") received its First Reading at
the Legislative Council meeting of 28 June 2017.
The AML Bill was passed on 24 January 2018.
《 Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (“AMLO”)》 (1)
《Professional Accountants Ordinance》 (Chapter 50)
The Law Society of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of
Certified Public Accountants
Estate Agents
Authority Companies
Registry
《 Legal Practitioners Ordinance》 (Chapter 159)
《Estate Agents Ordinance》
(Chapter 511)
《 Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance》 (Chapter 615 )
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Legal Professionals
Accounting
Professionals Estate Agents
Trust or Company Service Providers
• To prescribe statutory CDD and record-keeping requirements to DNFBPs when these professionals engage in specified transactions.
《 Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance》 (2)
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《 Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance》 (3)
• The licensing regime for TCSPs came into operation on 1 March 2018
• Introduce a licensing regime for TCSPs to require them to apply for a licence from the Registrar of Companies (“the Registrar”) and satisfy a “fit-and-proper” test before they can provide trust or company services as a business in Hong Kong. (AMLO sections 53F, 53G and 53H)
• The Registrar keeps a register of all TCSP licensees, which is open for public inspection. (AMLO section 53D)
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“Fit and Proper” Test (1)
Applicants, and their directors / partners / ultimate
owners (where applicable), will be subject to a “fit and proper” test.
In determining whether a person is fit and proper to
carry on, or be associated with, a TCSP business,
the Registrar will have regard to any matter that the
Registrar considers relevant.
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“Fit and Proper” Test (2)
Other matters to be taken into account include :-
• whether the person has any criminal conviction, in particular, those relating to money laundering or terrorist financing or involving fraud or dishonesty
• whether the person is an undischarged
bankrupt/ in liquidation or receivership
(AMLO sections 53H and 53I)
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Licensing Regime for TCSPs
The TCSP licensing requirement (including the fit and
proper test) does not apply to:
• an authorized institution;
• a licensed corporation that operates a TCSP business that is ancillary to the corporation’s principal business;
• an accounting professional;
• a legal professional.
(AMLO section 53B)
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HKICPA’s Guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering and
Counter-Terrorist Financing for Professional Accountants
HKICPA has issued AML / CTF guidelines, which form
part of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants,
and non-compliance with them may result in disciplinary
proceedings against the members and / or CPA practices
concerned.
Under the Ordinance, there is no criminal penalty for the
statutory CDD and record-keeping requirements, and
breaches by accountants will continue to be subject to the
disciplinary regime of HKICPA.
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Disciplinary sanctions
by HKICPA
Disciplinary sanctions
by HKICPA
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Licensing Regime and Accounting Professional
Certified Public Accountant and Certified Public Accountant (Practising) are not subject to the “fit and proper” test.
NO Licence
Required
CPA/ CPA (practising)
as a Sole Proprietor
Firm of CPA
(practising)
Partnership (not a firm of CPA (practising) but all partners are CPA/CPA (practising))
Corporate Practice
Regulatory
Regime
of the
HKICPA
Licence
REQUIRED
Partnership (at least one of the partners is NOT a
CPA/CPA (practising))
Partners who are
CPA/CPA (practising)
Corporation (other than a corporate
practice)
Regulatory
Regime
of the
Registrar of
Companies
Partnership & Partners who are
not CPA/ CPA (practising)
Directors who are
Accounting Professionals
Corporation & Directors
who are not Accounting
Professionals
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Licensing Regime and Legal Professional
Legal Professionals are not subject to the “fit and proper” test.
Sole Proprietor
Regulatory
Regime
of the
Law Society
of Hong
Kong
Sole
Proprietor
NO Licence
Required
Partnership (all partners are
Legal Professionals)
Partnership & its
Partners
Licence
REQUIRED
Partnership (at least one of the
partners is NOT Legal Professional)
Partners who are Legal
Professionals
Partnership & Partners who are not Legal Professionals
Regulatory
Regime
of the
Registrar of
Companies
Corporation
Corporation & Directors
who are not Legal
Professionals
Directors who are
Legal Professionals
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Validity Period and Renewal of Licence
In usual circumstances, a licence, once
granted, will last for 3 years.
(AMLO sections 53K and 53O)
A licensee may apply to the Registrar for a
renewal of the licence.
Applicants for renewal of a licence will be
subject to the same “fit and proper” test
applicable to an application for a new
licence.
(AMLO section 53R)
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Revocation or Suspension of Licence
The Registrar may revoke a licence or suspend a licence for a specified period if the Registrar considers that an individual licensee, any partner, director or ultimate owner of a licensee is no longer a fit and proper person to carry on, or be associated with, a trust or company service business.
The revocation or suspension of licence takes effect at the time specified in the notice.
The Registrar must inform the licensee of the revocation or suspension by notice in writing.
(AMLO section 53Q)
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Any person proposing to become a partner, director
or an ultimate owner of a licensee is required to
obtain the Registrar’s prior written approval.
Registrar’s Approval to Become a Partner/
Director/ Ultimate Owner of a TCSP Licensee
(AMLO sections 53S, 53T & 53U)
The application for the approval is to be made by
the licensee.
The Registrar will apply the same “fit and proper” test.
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Licensee’s Duty to Give Notifications
A licensee has the duty to notify the Registrar if :-
• There is any change in the particulars previously
provided in connection with the licensee’s application for the grant or renewal of a licence;
• The licensee intends to cease to carry on the trust
or company service business.
(AMLO sections 53W and 53X)
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Power of Inspection and Discipline
Site inspections will be carried out to ensure
compliance with the CDD and record-keeping
requirements.
• Public reprimand;
• Remedial order to remedy the contravention;
• Payment of a pecuniary penalty not
exceeding $500,000.
(AMLO section 53Z)
Licensees will be subject to disciplinary sanctions to
be imposed by the Registrar as follows:-
Application for TCSP Licence (1)
Sole proprietor
Partnership Corporation
Apply for TCSP Licence
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Application for TCSP Licence (2)
Copy of documentary
proof
Exempted persons
Form TCSP4 or Form TCSP5 for each person subject to the fit and proper test TCSP1
TCSP4 TCSP5
Additional fee for each person: HK$975 i
Individual Corporation
Application fee: HK$3,440
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Application
and/
or
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Application for TCSP Licence (3)
Example 1: Applicant – Partnership X Individual A –
Partner (exempted)
Individual B – Partner
Corporation C – Partner
Copy of documentary
proof
TCSP1 TCSP4 TCSP5
Partnership X
Application fee: HK$3,440
i Additional fee: HK$975
i Additional fee: HK$975
i
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TCSP4
Application for TCSP Licence (4)
Individual A – Director & Ultimate
Owner
Corporation B – Director
Example 2: Applicant – Corporation Y
TCSP1 TCSP5
Corporation Y
Application fee: HK$3,440
i Additional fee: HK$975
i Additional fee: HK$975
i
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Application for TCSP Licence (5)
• The Registrar may grant a TCSP licence if
the Registrar is satisfied that the applicant
and each relevant person is fit and proper
• If a licence is granted, applicant will be
notified to collect the TCSP licence
Application in hard copy form
• Collect TCSP licence at our office
Application submitted electronically
• Download TCSP licence at our website
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Application for Approval to Become a TCSP Licensee’s Ultimate owner / Partner/ Director (1)
For each person whom approval is required
and/
or
TCSP3 TCSP4 TCSP5
Application
Application fee: HK$1,140 for each person
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Individual Corporation
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Example: Applicant – TCSP Licensee Corporation Z
Application for Approval to Become a TCSP Licensee’s Ultimate owner / Partner/ Director (2)
TCSP4
Individual A – Director
Corporation B – Director
TCSP3 TCSP5
Corporation Z
Application fee: HK$1,140
i Application fee: HK$1,140
i
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Application for Approval to Become a TCSP Licensee’s Ultimate owner / Partner/ Director (3)
The TCSP licensee should notify the Registrar of the change in particulars within one month
TCSP6
Written approval of the Registrar
If application is successful
The TCSP licensee can make necessary arrangements for the person to become its ultimate owner / partner / director
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Transitional Arrangements (1)
When the licensing requirement comes into effect,
a person is deemed to have been granted a licence
if the person is at the time:-
• carrying on a TCSP business; and
• holding a valid business registration certificate.
There will be a transitional period of 120 days.
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Transitional Arrangements (2)
A deemed licence will cease to have effect in certain events, such as when:-
• no application for a licence is made within the transitional period, and the transitional period ends;
• an application for a licence is made within the transitional period and the licence is granted or not granted;
• the deemed licensee ceases to hold a valid business registration certificate;
• the deemed licensee ceases to carry on the TCSP business.
(AMLO section 53ZQ)
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Applications for TCSPs licences
Up to 31 March 2018
Number of applications
> 1,700
Number of enquiries
> 6,000
Number of visits on TCSP website
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> 78,000
Guidelines and Reference Materials
The Registrar has published the following
guidelines:-
• Guideline on Licensing of Trust or Company Service Providers;
• Guideline on Compliance of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Requirements for Trust or Company Service Providers;
• Guideline for Imposition of Pecuniary Penalty.
External circulars, pamphlets, demonstration
videos, hotline, FAQs, etc.
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